Islamic Republic of Pakistan Government’s efforts to develop and strengthen National Occupational Safety & Health System Presentation by Ministry of Labour & Manpower, Government of Pakistan (Muhammad Iqbal, Chief Inspector of Mines) at Study Visit on Occupational Health and Safety to SESRIC and ISGUM, Ankara-Turkey, May, 2010.

Occupational Safety & Health System  Policy Framework.  Regulatory Legislation.  Enforcement Arrangements.

Policy Framework for OSH

Labour Policy. Labour Protection Policy. Labour Inspection Policy. Tri-partite (Employers, Workers & Government) consensus for policy development. Extension to all sectors of economy. Stress on promotion and improvement. Policy Framework for OSH

Vision: Dignity of labour. Decent working conditions. Strengthening bilateralism. Workers and employers encouraged to build on the minimum standards set by the State. Labour Policy

Features:  Highest priority to OSH of labour.  Establishment of a National Occupational Safety & Health Council.  Consolidation of laws relating to OSH. Labour Policy (contd.)

 Promotion of research and training in OSH.  Reorganization of inspection services. Labour Policy (contd.)

Objectives: Increased protection and improved working conditions for workers. Productivity enhancement through a safer and healthier working environment. Labour Protection Policy

Labour Protection Policy (contd.) Features: Coverage: Workers engaged under formal contracts. Protection to workers employed under non-traditional arrangements.

Work Safety and Occupational Health: Written OSH policy by enterprises. Provincial Labour Inspectorates to assist in preparation of such documents. Labour Protection Policy (contd.)

OSH Institutes: Establishment of Provincial Occupational Safety & Health Institutes to provide: Technical information; Training; Research; and Testing services.

Labour Protection Policy (contd.) Labour Administration Capacity Building: Plan highlighting: Human resource; Logistics; Information; and Managerial requirements.

Objectives:  Flexible, transparent, fair and innovative approaches to inspection.  Coverage of both formal & informal sectors.  Utilization of services available in private sector.  Implementation of policies and laws.  Increased harmony and cooperation between workers and managers. Labour Inspection Policy

The Government plans to revitalize and restructure the inspection system through following initiatives:  Registration and risk assessment.  Integrated inspection.  Self-inspection and self-reporting.  Systems inspection.  Labour extension.  Private sector involvement. Labour Inspection Policy (contd.)

Registration and risk assessment:  Registration of all workplaces with Provincial Labour Inspectorates.  Establishment of criteria for determining the workplaces ‘at risk’.  Identification of vulnerable enterprises.  Focus on enterprises posing the greatest threat to workers’ protection. Labour Inspection Policy (contd.)

Integrated inspection:  Rationalization of inspection systems through progressive integration.  ‘One enterprise-one inspector’. Labour Inspection Policy (contd.)

Self-inspection and self-reporting:  ‘Low risk’ enterprises.  Self-check and report using a checklist.  Actual visit of labour inspector to fewer enterprises.  Advisory role of labour inspector. Labour Inspection Policy (contd.)

Systems inspection:  Focus on systems the enterprise has in place to prevent accidents, protect workers and improve working conditions.  Advisory role of Inspector. Labour Inspection Policy (contd.)

Private sector involvement:  Introduction of accredited companies and individuals under a licensing system for specified inspection work. Labour Inspection Policy (contd.)

Labour Extension:  Coverage to workers not traditionally covered by national labour laws. Labour Inspection Policy (contd.)

Capacity building for inspection work:  Establishment of a National Labour Inspectorate as the central inspection authority.  Provincial Labour Inspectorates to serve as focal point for all inspection functions at provincial level.  Training of inspectors and establishment of information database. Labour Inspection Policy (contd.)

Regulatory Legislation for OSH

A set of laws applicable to specific activities: Consolidation and updating of laws is under process. Regulatory Legislation for OSH Factories Act, Shops and Establishments Ordinance, Mines Act, Dock Labourers Act, Road Transport Workers Ordinance, Railways Act, Boilers and Pressure Vessels Ordinance, Hazardous Occupations Rules, Workmen’s Compensation Act, 1923 Provincial Employees’ Social Security Ordinance, 1965.

Enforcement Arrangements for OSH

Setting the overall policy and goals, framing of new laws, review of existing laws, adoption of international conventions and protocols. Provincial Labour/Industries/ Mines Departments Supervision of enforcement of laws and policies in the provinces Inspectorates of Boilers Directorates of Labour Welfare (Labour Inspectorates) Inspectorates of Mines Enforcement Arrangements for OSH Services

Federal: Central Inspectorate of Mines: –Regulates OSH concerns in the mines in direct federal jurisdiction, i.e. oil-fields, gas-fields and mines of nuclear substances; –Conducts job-related training programmes for workers, supervisors and managers regarding H 2 S hazards, rescue work and to raise awareness about safety laws. –Also serves as ILO-CIS National Centre and country representative on APOSHO for promotion of OSH culture. Government Organizations engaged at OSH Services

Federal: Directorate of Dock Workers Safety: Regulates safety of dock workers employed in loading and unloading cargo at ports and ships. National Institute of Fire Technology: Imparts training in fire safety/fire-fighting. Government Organizations engaged at OSH Services (contd.)

Provincial: Directorates of Labour Welfare: Monitor OSH aspects in commercial and industrial undertakings under Factories Act, 1934 and West Pakistan Shops & Establishments Ordinance, Centre for the Improvement of Working Conditions and Environment/Occupational Safety & Health Centre: Provide training on occupational safety, industrial hygiene, risk assessment, chemical safety, selection and use of personal protective equipments, ergonomics, first-aid and occupational diseases management etc. Civil Defense Academy: For training in first-aid & fire-fighting etc. Government Organizations engaged at OSH Services (contd.)

Provincial: Inspectorates of Mines: Regulate OSH concerns in mines other than those of mineral oil, natural gas and nuclear substances. Mine Rescue & Safety Training Centers: Impart safety training to managers, supervisors and workers and provide mine rescue services, under the umbrella of Inspectorate of Mines. Inspectorates of Boilers: To regulate safety in pressure vessel/boiler operation. Government Organizations engaged at OSH Services (contd.)

Inspection Staff:  Labour Inspectors: Small industrial and all commercial enterprises under West Pakistan Shops & Establishments Ordinance,  Labour Officers/Technical Inspectors of Factories: Factories under the Factories Act,  Inspectors of Mines under Mines Act, Enforcement Arrangements for OSH Services (contd.)

Work on a devolution plan is under way to empower the provincial governments for enhancing the system efficiency. The institutional set-up would be revitalized and restructured in the light of new policy framework. Enforcement Arrangements for OSH Services (contd.)

 OSH is placed high on the Government’s agenda.  A comprehensive programme has been launched for updating policies and laws and capacity building/strengthening of institutional arrangements in the light of international standards, innovative approaches and recognized practices to provide better services in the field of OSH. Conclusions

 The policies and legislation lay emphasis on providing an environment conducive for development of a healthy and well- motivated productive workforce through achievement of necessary goodwill and cooperation of the three partners – government, employers and workers.  System improvement followed as a continuous and reiterative process to meet the needs of changing times. Conclusions (contd.)

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